2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Texas
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for You
In 2020-2021, 7,380 degrees and certificates were awarded to parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who went to a Texas college or university. This makes it the #14 most popular major in the state.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Texas ranking. Our analysis looked at 45 schools in Texas to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Texas
Check out the parks and rec programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 10 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
Our analysis found Rice University to be the best school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a degree in Texas. Located in the large city of Houston, Rice is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Rice carry an average student debtload of $10,000.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Southern Methodist University is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the large suburb of Dallas, SMU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Parks & Rec majors at SMU take out an average of $21,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
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The excellent programs at The University of Texas at Austin helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in Texas. Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public college with a very large student population.
On average, parks and rec graduates from UT Austin take out $21,765 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $385, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The excellent programs at Texas A&M University - College Station helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in Texas. Texas A&M College Station is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of College Station.
On average, parks and rec graduates from Texas A&M College Station take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $345.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lubbock Christian University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Texas list. Located in the city of Lubbock, LCU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from LCU carry an average student debtload of $28,750.
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University of Houston - Clear Lake landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the suburb of Houston, UH Clear Lake is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Parks & Rec majors at UH Clear Lake take out an average of $18,785 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Houston - Clear Lake Report
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Tarleton State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the remote town of Stephenville, Tarleton is a public college with a large student population.
Parks & Rec majors at Tarleton take out an average of $23,250 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $152.
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Saint Edward’s University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Texas list. St. Edward's University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Austin.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at St. Edward's University accumulate an average of around $24,000 in student debt.
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Sam Houston State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the town of Huntsville, SHSU is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at SHSU accumulate an average of around $23,125 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $177, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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West Texas A&M University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the fringe town of Canyon, West Texas A&M University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from West Texas A&M University carry an average student debtload of $22,950.
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Request InformationBest Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Southwest Region
Explore all the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southwest Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Arizona | 1,071 |
| New Mexico | 141 |
| Oklahoma | 1,179 |
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Rankings in Texas
Rankings in Majors Related to Parks & Rec
Parks & Rec Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 67,146 |
| Recreation Administration | 3,122 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 3,106 |
| Outdoor Education | 265 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 174 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting | 142,610 |
| Public Administration & Social Service | 98,583 |
| Legal Professions | 61,055 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 4,477 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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